Adjustable grade iron fence



Jan. 24, 1939. e. A. GUSTAFSON 2,145,172

ADJUSTABLE GRADE IRON FENCE File'd Feb. 23, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l II n Hx I 1 [720657255 6 drrzoZd GaaZafiwm Jan. 24, 1939. A. GUSTAFSQN2,145,172

ADJUSTABLE GRADE IRON FENC E Filed Feb. 25, 1937 3 Sheets-sheaf 2 Gdrfzofd Gwhfgorz Jan. 24, 1939- G. A. GUSTAFS ON- ADJUSTABLE GRADE IRONFENCE Filed Feb. 23, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE GRADE IRON FENCE Application February23, 1937, Serial No. 127,273

12 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in fence structure and has moreparticular reference to an improved iron fence of the ornamental pickettype.

V The inherent characteristics of ornamental iron fencing such as itssolid and substantial appearance makes this type of fence very desirablefor certain purposes which the chain-link wire fabric type of fence cannot fulfill. However, the demand for ornamental iron fence has not beenas great as might be expected due primarily tothe fact that such fenceis very expensive to con-V struct and erect as it is first necessary todetermine the grade at the place of erection.- The fence is then builtto specification and when erected it will conform to the slope andcontour of the ground.

An object of the invention is to provide an ornamental iron fence whichwill be adjustable as to grade so that the'fence will not have to bebuilt to particular specifications but can be manufactured in largequantities at a relatively low cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide an iron picket fence thatcan be fabricated either partly or entirely from sheet metal and whichwill fulfill all requirements of service ordinarily demanded ofornamental iron fencing.

Another object is to provide an iron picket fence wherein the horizontalrails are fabricated from a plurality of parts stamped from sheet metaland which are capable of holding the fence in assembled relationalthough permitting limited articulated movement so that the fence canbe adjusted to conform to the slope and contour of the ground at theplace of erection.

Another object is to provide an ornamental iron fence of the characterdescribed wherein the horizontal rails and pickets will be held inassembled relation without the use of welding or fastening means of anykind.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consistof certain novel features of construction and operation as will be morefully described and particularly pointed out in the specification,drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention andwherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts-Figure 1 is a front elevational view illustrating a fragmentary sectionof the ornamental picket fence of the invention;

Figure 2 is a rear'elevational view with parts 1 shown in section of thefence of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is aplan view, parts being shown in section, takensubstantially alongline 3-3 of Figure 1; I

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the constructionof the horizontal rails and the manner of associating the picketstherewith;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a channel member comprising oneelement of a horizontal rail;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line6--6 of Figure 4;

Figure '7 is a rear'elevational view showing a fragmentary section ofthe present fence -adjusted to conform to the slope of the ground; and

Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views illustrating the manner ofassembling the pickets and horizontal rails.

The present fence is similar in appearance to the ornamental iron fenceof the type having vertical pickets although the horizontal rails of thepresent fence are fabricated from sections stamped. from sheet metal.The pickets thereof may also be stamped from sheet metal although solidiron pickets may be used if desired and are therefore to be consideredas coming within the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the fence of the invention may bedescribedas comprising vertical pickets indicated by numeral l0 held in verticalposition and in proper spaced relation by horizontal upper and lowerrails indicated generally by numerals II and I2, respectively. Aspreviously described, the pickets may be stamped from sheet metal inwhich case they will be channel-shaped in cross section, or said picketsmay be of solid iron as shown at [0 in Figures 4, 8 and 9. The upperends of the pickets are preferably pointed as at l3, in any desireddecorative manner and are further characterized by notches l4 located inthe upper section and lower section of the pickets respectively. Saidnotches are provided in opposed side walls of the pickets and functionto support the horizontal rails, as. will be more particularlydescribed. The said horizontal rails have limited movement on thepickets, which may be described as pivotal movement, with the notches l4forming bearings on which the pivotal movement of the rails takes place.

The upper and lower rails II and I2, respectively, are identicalinconstruction, each including a channel member l6, Figure 5, havingparallel forwardly projecting flanges I1 and I8. At spaced points alongthe length of the channelshaped member the lower flanges I! are slottedas at 20 for substantially the full extent of the flange, said slothaving a width slightly larger than the width of the pickets at thenotches I4. In vertical alignment with the slots 20 the upper flange I8is slotted as at 2 I, also for the full depth of the flange, althoughthe width of each slot 2| greatly exceeds that of the slots 20. Thewidth of each slot 2I will depend on the width of the pickets ID withwhich the channel-shaped member I6 is to be assembled. In the presentdrawings the slot 2| is shown as having a width substantially twice thatof the slot 20 and this may be considered as exemplary without limitingthe invention thereto. As a further guide in determining the width ofthe slots 2I it is necessary that the same greatly exceed the width ofthe picket III or III in order to allow pivotal movement of thechannel-shaped member on the notches I4.

The other part of each horizontal rail consists of a member 22 which, asshown in Figure 4, consists of a depending flange 23, an arcuate frontportion 24, and a connecting flat top portion 25. At spaced'intervalsalong the length of member 22 the flat top portion 25 is provided withopenings 26 which may be either square or rectangular, depending on thecross sectional shape of the pickets. The openings 26 are large enoughto permit a picket to pass freely through the opening, although it isdesirable that each opening have a fairly close fit around its picket.The arcuate portion 24 of said member is bowed to the extent where thelower end thereof will engage and ap-' ply a yielding pressure to thepicket at a point some distance below each pair of notches I4, as

will be clearly understood by reference to Figure 6( In assembling thepickets and horizontal rails the lower rail I2 is assembled first, sinceit is necessary to telescope the member Hover the pickets, the saidpickets entering the openings 26 provided therefor. The member l6 of thelower rail is first associated with the pickets, as shown in Figure 8,the notched section in the lower portion of the pickets entering theslots 20 in the lower flange of the member, which thereby positions andretains the said channel-shaped member on the pickets. The member 22 ofthe lower rail is then telescoped over the pickets which enter and passthrough openings 26 therefor. Downward movement of the member 22 may becontinued until the arcuate portion 24' strikes the lower projectingflange II. It will then be necessary 'topry said arcuate portion 24outwardly until the same will pass over the projecting edge of flange II which provides an effective lock to retain the members in associatedrelation. It is also understood that the arcuate portion 24 is bowed sothat its lower end engages the pickets, applying a yielding pressureagainst the same, to aid in maintaining the fence structure in a firmand secure relation. However, it is possible for the member 22 to haveconsiderable movement vertically with respect to member I6 and in orderto prevent this and at the same time hold the'member22 with the fiat topportion 25 in contact with the top flange I8 the members have lockingrelation as shown in Figures 4 and 6. The lock is formed by indentingthe body portion of member I 6 at 2'! for a distance between adjacentpickets and by cutting the lower edge of flange 23 at spaced points asat 28 and bending inwardly the portion or lip' 39 of metal between saidcuts. In accordance with the invention the indented portion 21 isconsiderably longer than the lip 30 or, in other words, said indentedportion is longer than the distance between cuts 28. When the assemblyof the lower rail is completed the upper rail I I is then assembled in asimilar manner as illustrated in Figure 9.

In ornamental iron fencing sections of the fence are supported by postswhich may have a distinctive design in order to carry out the dec- Iorative feature of the fence. The invention contemplates that thepresent fence will comprise sections of pickets and rails as describedwhich will be supported by posts of any conventional construction anddesign. It has not been deemed necessary to disclosethe posts as theyform no part-of the invention.

The present fence will fulfill all requirements of service ordinarilydemanded of ornamental iron fencing although the same can be constructedentirely of sheet metal. Notwithstanding the fabricated construction ofthe rails, they present at all times a solid and substantial appearancewhich compares favorably with conventional ornamental iron fence. Theouter ap-' pearance of the present fence is further enhanced by the factthat the openings 26 have a close fit around each picket so as not'todis-' A further important feature of the present fence resides in itsadjustability as'to grade. Thus the present fence can be manufactured asa standard article in large quantities and erected on ground of anyslope or contour. This adjustability as to grade isthe result of thepivotal movement which the pickets Ill may have on the channel memberI6, as will be clear from an inspection of Figure '7. The picketsmaintain their vertical position, whereas, the rails are disposedparallel to the ground. The channel members support the pickets at thenotches I4 and each notch forms a bearing on which said pivotal movementmay take place. In accordance with the invention the slots 2| are madesufficiently large to accommodate the pickets when the channel member isangularly disposed with respect thereto. This pivoting movement betweenthe channel member and pickets, as above described, causes slidingmovement of each member 22 on its channel member I6. This relativemovement of the members comprising the rails is charac teristic of thepresent fence structure. For this reason it isnecessary that theindented portion 21 have a length in excess of lip 30. Irrespective ofthe angular position of the rails as regards the pickets the appearanceof said rails remains the same and the parts are maintained in a firmand secure relation under all conditions.

It is not necessary to weld any parts of the present fence nor arefastening means of any kind required. The parts are retained inassoparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Fence structure of the ornamental iron type consisting of verticallydisposed pickets supported by spaced upper and lower rails, each railincluding associated members one of which has engagement with saidpickets in a manner to support the same while permitting limited pivotalmovement of the pickets on said member at their point of support, saidother member partly enclosing said first mentioned member and having afacing portion forming the front wall of the rail.

2. Fence structure of the ornamental iron type consisting of verticallydisposed pickets supported by spaced upper and lower rails, each railincluding associated members one of which has engagement with saidpickets in a manner to support the same while permitting limited pivotalmovement of the pickets on said member at their point of support, saidother member partly enclosing said first mentioned member and having anoutwardly bowed portion forming the front wall of the rail, the lowerend of said bowed portion contacting the pickets.

3. Fence structure consisting of vertically disposed pickets supportedby spaced upper and lower rails, each rail including associated memberssubstantially channel-shape in cross section, one of said membersproviding the rear wall of said rail and having engagement with saidpickets in a manner to support the same while permitting limited pivotalmovement of the pickets on said member at their point of support, andsaid other member having openings for the passage of the pickets.

4. Fence structure consisting of vertically disposed pickets supportedby spaced upper and lower rails, each rail comprising associated memberssubstantially channel-shaped in cross section and each member havingopenings therein for the passage of the pickets, the openings in one ofsaid members being substantially vertically aligned with the openings inthe other members, and said members having relative movement in thedirection of their longitudinal axes when said fence structure isadjusted to conform to the slope of the ground at its place of erection,whereby said openings maintain their vertl cal alignment.

5. Fence structure consisting of vertically disposed pickets supportedby spaced upper and lower rails, each rail comprising a channelshapedmember providing the rear wall and a cover member providing the frontwall of the rail, the cover member and said channel-shaped member havingopenings therein permitting passage of the pickets, said pickets havinginterlocking engagement with the channel-shaped member at the openingstherein and which permits limited pivotal movement of the pickets.

6. Fence structure of the character described, comprising verticallydisposed pickets supported by spaced upper and lower rails, each railcomprising a channel-shaped member providing the rear wall of the railand a cover member providing the front wall, each member having openingstherein permitting passage of the pickets, said pickets having a notchedportion of reduced width, and the said openings in the channelshapedmember receiving the portion of reduced width of the picket passingtherethrough, whereby the pickets are supported by said member in amanner permitting limited pivotal movement of the pickets on the member.

'7. In a fence of the character described, vertically disposed picketsand spaced upper and lower rails supporting said pickets, each railcomprising associated members each having openings in at least one wallthereof permitting pas sage of the pickets, and said members havinginterlocking engagement in assembled relation and which maintains saidfence in proper assembled relation without extraneous fastening means.

8. In a fence of the character described, vertically disposed picketsand spaced upper and lower rails supporting said pickets, each railincluding a channel-shaped member the lower flange of which is providedwith openings receiving the pickets and which are thereby supported bysaid member, and a cover member having a bowed portion providing thefront wall of the rail,.and which in assembled relation extends belowsaid lower flange forming a lock therewith.

9. In a fence of the character described, vertically disposed picketsand spaced upper and lower rails supporting said pickets, each railincluding a channel-shaped member the lower flange of which is providedwith openings receiving the pickets and which are thereby supported bysaid member, and a cover member having a bowed portion providing thefront wall of the rail, said bowed portion extending below the lowerflange when the members are in assembled relation and the end of saidbowed portion engaging the pickets and applying a yielding pressurethereto.

10. In a fence of the character described, vertically disposed picketsand spaced upper and lower rails supporting said pickets, each railincluding a channel-shaped member the lower flange of which is providedwith openings receivin the pickets and which are thereby supported bysaid member, and a cover member having a bowed portion providing thefront wall of the rail.

11. In a fence of the character described, vertically disposed picketsand spaced upper and lower rails supporting said pickets, each railincluding a channel-shaped member the lower flange of which is providedwith openings receiving the pickets and which are thereby supported bysaid member, and a cover member having a bowed portion providing thefront wall of the rail, said cover member having openings in one wallthereof through which the pickets extend.

12. In a fence of the character described, ver- .locking engagement withthe channel-shaped member to maintain the members in assembled relation,and said cover member having sliding movement on the channel-shapedmember upon adjustment of the fence to adapt the same to the slope ofthe ground at the place of erection.

GUSTAF ARNOLD GUSTAFSON.

